Chapter 716

Someone said it.

That people who are usually quiet are scarier when they get angry.

Ju Hwaran’s current state was exactly that.

Wood fragments rained down from the hands of the Dragon Phoenix Escort Agency’s precious daughter, the human air purifier who always refreshed the pungent—no, spicy jalapeño pepper party.

Her usually gentle eyes and voice had turned sharp as thorns.

“Taesan Sohyup.”

Taesan, who became the first target, flinched.

“Didn’t the Pavilion Lord tell you how much Jin Gongja suffered for us? How can you say such a thing?”

“T-Taesan was wrong.”

“Even if you have a strong appetite, if you say another ominous thing, I’ll really put a gag on you—just like Nam Noya said.”

Sama Pyo frowned and opened his mouth at Ju Hwaran’s stern warning.

“Ju Sojeo. Taesan is not a beast.”

“Then should I put a gag on you instead of Taesan Sohyup?”

“The answer is?”

Sama Pyo thought for a while, then answered with a serious face.

“W-when I think about it, sometimes putting a gag on him for diet management wouldn’t be bad.”

“Please be careful in the future. I know you don’t mean any harm, but it’s too much.”

“…I understand. I’ll talk to him.”

Nam Ho muttered regretfully as the gag bill he proposed narrowly failed.

“I have to see that guy gagged before I die…”

However, even Nam Ho couldn’t avoid becoming Ju Hwaran’s target.

“Nam Noya.”

“? Huh?”

“You should act like an adult if you’re an elder. It’s not good to hear you swearing in front of a patient who hasn’t even recovered yet.”

“What? Patient?”

Nam Ho looked at my face, glossy from a full level-up and rest, and made a sullen expression.

“No, that’s beside the point. Where is there a bigger swearer than Jin Taekyung, and why are you suddenly…”

Thud.

At that moment, I clearly saw it.

Just as that resentful voice was about to continue, Hyuk Mu-jin, who was next to him, subtly poked Nam Ho in the side with his elbow.

And if we reinterpret the meaning contained in that small gesture in a modern way, it would be like this.

‘Don’t ruin the atmosphere and just stay quiet.’

Nam Ho had decades of experience as an intelligence agent.

He rolled his eyes around, then lowered his head as if he had given up.

“Okay. I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Then next is Hyuk So…

What are you doing right now?”

“I’m massaging his shoulders to relieve the Captain’s hard work.”

Right. He’s not Hyuk cockroach for nothing.

Ju Hwaran, who smiled contentedly at the sight of Hyuk Mu-jin massaging my body with quick wit, turned her head toward the remaining person.

“Song Guard.”

An earthquake struck the pupils of Song Ilseom, who had been silent from beginning to end.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I know. Just keep that posture.”

“…I understand.”

Ju Hwaran’s gaze, having dealt with the last target, shifted toward me.

As soon as our eyes met, my lips opened reflexively.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I was wrong.”

“Pardon?”

“Yes?”

“What?”

“Ah, no. Just…”

It feels like I have to do that. Call it a survival instinct.

I sent a look to Hyuk Mu-jin, who was diligently massaging my legs.

‘What happened? Why is Ju Sojeo like this?’

Hyuk Mu-jin replied with his eyes.

‘Ju Sojeo is so worried about the Captain that she’s like that, so just go with it.’

‘Even so, the atmosphere is different. The atmosphere.’

‘If you don’t have any tact, just shut your mouth…’

At that moment, Ju Hwaran suddenly opened her mouth.

“What are you two doing right now?”

….

….

Hyuk Mu-jin’s massage speed, startled, doubled.

“What do you mean? I’m still massaging the Captain’s legs. Oh my, the muscles here are really tight. Should I do it harder?”

Feeling something strange, I carefully blocked his arm.

“That’s enough. Stop it.”

“Yes? Why?”

“Th-there’s nothing wrong. I’m fine now.”

“Our Captain is doing this again. He’s feeling refreshed and good.”

“No. I said I’m fine. You must be tired too, so stop.”

“Uh-huh. Don’t refuse. I, Hyuk Mu-jin, can do anything as the Captain’s right-hand man. Ju Sojeo, you saw it too, right? Our Captain takes care of his people like this.”

And toward Hyuk Mu-jin, who was laughing heartily while looking at Ju Hwaran, I sent a telepathic transmission with a bitter heart.

That wasn’t a leg just now??….

===

So get it off right now, you bastard. Before I break your wrist.

Hyuk Mu-jin, who went silent for a moment, quietly took his hand away.

I wanted to slap the back of the head of the guy who was looking at me with a mix of awe and fear, but I barely held back because there were other people in front of me.

No, maybe…

‘Hmm. No. That’s too much.’

I muttered inwardly and took in everyone’s faces one by one.

These are the people I thought I might never see again just a few days ago.

The situation given to us was the worst, and everything was like being in a fog where we couldn’t see an inch ahead.

But it feels new to be alive and gathered together like this.

The fact that none of them died makes me happy.

“It’s a relief. Really.”

At my one word that broke the short silence, everyone’s eyes widened. And soon, they smiled faintly.

That was enough.

We, who had gradually become closer, knew each other’s hearts.

—

It took quite a long time to hear all the stories.

We spent the same time, but I and they experienced different situations in different places, and the story included the past seven days and nights that I had spent unconscious.

“I really thought I was going to die then. The Captain wasn’t there, and we were tied up, and then that Blood Monk, who we had only heard about, suddenly landed on the Swift Ship, wow…”

“If he hadn’t recognized Jeok Daehyup, a battle would have broken out. The Southern Barbarian warriors who were with him were so belligerent.”

“I really thought everything was over then. It wasn’t enough to bring reinforcements to save you, but the great Blood Monk appeared.”

It was a more detailed story than what I had heard from Jeok Cheon-Gang.

When the Blood Monk’s true identity was revealed, the Southern Barbarian people were initially skeptical, but the battle ended before it even started when the Water Dragon Pavilion’s bandits, who all had bruises on their eyes, came forward to certify that he was the Fire King.

After that, Jeok Cheon-Gang headed to the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace with all his might, and when the Hwaryonggak members and the Southern Barbarian people of the reconnaissance team arrived a step late, everything was over.

“When I saw the Captain collapse, I really thought you were dead at first. Your body was covered in blood, and there was only blood and corpses around…”

I was about to cut off Hyuk Mu-jin’s words at this point.

Because if a story about my perfectly healthy body came out, no one would be able to avoid suspicion.

But the next moment, before I could open my mouth, Ju Hwaran’s voice continued.

“But Jeok Cheon-Gang Daehyup stepped forward and reassured everyone that you had only collapsed due to fatigue?”

I asked with a doubtful heart.

“…By any chance, what exactly did Noya—no, Master—say?”

“Hm. Well. Everyone was so flustered at the time. But thanks to Jeok Daehyup’s timely arrival, I remember that he said that Jin Gongja didn’t suffer any major injuries. Young Master Yal Mok also said it was true.”

Nam Ho nodded and took over.

“It’s Heaven’s will, Heaven’s will. No matter how outstanding that guy is, how could he have survived in that hell? Two of the Ten Kings stepped forward, so even the Southern Demon Empress couldn’t have done anything about it.”

A slightly different story from the truth.

However, I nodded silently and showed my agreement.

This is clear protection. Jeok Cheon-Gang and Wang Ho used their hands to hide the secret I had and avoid people’s suspicions.

‘The survivors of the Hundred Heavens Corps will also keep their mouths shut. They are loyal to the Beast Miao King.’

Death is silence.

That day’s battle mainly took place in the Inner Palace, and most of the people who were there died.

If the survivors don’t open their mouths, the secret will be kept.

‘Even if I’ve gotten close to them, I can’t tell them the truth.’

Phenomena that cannot be explained in words are called magic or miracles in modern times.

But here, in Murim, it will be called differently.

“Demon.”

The power of incomprehensible monsters and gods always evokes people’s fears.

I didn’t want to let others know about this ability called the system if possible.

‘It’s already spilled water, though.’

I don’t know what the choice of that day, which I couldn’t avoid, will bring about.

But I was glad that Jeok Cheon-Gang was the one who witnessed the scene most closely, and I could rest assured because I knew what kind of person the Beast Miao King was.

“Captain?”

“Huh?”

“What are you thinking so hard about?”

My thoughts must have been long.

I waved my hand at Hyuk Mu-jin, who was looking at me with suspicious eyes.

“It’s nothing. I just had a different thought for a moment. Continue.”

“Ah, yes. But where did I leave off?”

“…Did you hurt your head?”

“No. I guess it’s because someone hit me in the back of the head so much.”

Hyuk Mu-jin, who clearly conveyed the identity of ‘someone’ by glancing at me, continued.

“I think I already said that the dead were gathered together and cremated. And you know that all the tribal chiefs who were attached to Baek Sang and ran away were imprisoned?”

“To some extent.”

“Ah, that’s right. Come to think of it, Great Chief Yohee also asked for forgiveness on her own.”

“Yohee too?”

“Yes. Yal Daehyup showed his willingness to forgive, but she voluntarily imprisoned herself.”

It was unexpected that Yohee had acted to that extent, but on the other hand, it also felt natural.

Although she regretted it late, Yohee also colluded with Baek Sang to enjoy wealth and power. She must have realized a lot while overcoming the crisis of death.

‘She chose it herself. She must have thought it was right.’

I muttered inwardly and listened to the following stories.

The fact that more Southern Barbarian people than ever before are staying in the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace to restore the Inner Palace, which has become a ruin, and the Outer Palace, which has suffered considerable damage.

As a result, Young Master Yal Mok is also busy.

“I’ve sent the news first, but I don’t know if he’ll come right away. It’s hard to see his shadow these days.”

“Maybe so. Maybe the Beast Miao King is the same.”

“Yal Daehyup… won’t also show himself to other people even to us.”

“What?”

“He’s been missing since two days ago. The executives are already in a mess.”